Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Accidental Courtesan in the Lair!

Hosted by Donna MacMeans

Today we're welcoming the return of Cheryl Ann Smith to tell us about her new release, The Accidental Courtesan (Don't you love that cover?)Romantic Times gives a thumbs up to the book's "dash of humor, plenty of sensuality and a fast pace." Without further ado, here's Cheryl Ann -

Thanks so much to Romance Bandits and Donna for having me here! I had so much fun on my last visit that I’m thrilled to come back to talk about courtesans and to give away prizes!

Several years ago, I decided to write a book about a courtesan school. My heroine would rescue courtesans from that life and match them with suitors. In order to make the storyline realistic, I needed to find out if courtesans actually did marry. Thankfully, it was quite common, giving my story credibility.

Many of the women who became courtesans did so to escape poverty. Some turned to the profession to gain power, and some just enjoyed the notoriety it afforded them. Oddly, it appears that men did not find a woman’s scandalous past (or in some cases, present and future) as a mistress or courtesan a deterrent to marriage. Some husbands used their wives' extra-marital relationships with nobility to gain favor in court.

Jeanne Becu was the illegitimate daughter of a seamstress. She became a prostitute in her teens, though she had several professions, including milliner’s assistant. At the time, only titled women could be a royal mistress and she seemed to like the idea of becoming one. So, she married Comte Guillaume du Barry and was soon a mistress to Louis XV. Sadly, some years after Louis XV died, she was accused of treason the beheaded. France sure liked their guillotine!

Virginia Oldoini wasn’t born poor. She married at 17 and became the Countess of Castiglione. A cousin involved her in politics, where she met, and became the mistress of, Napoleon III. This (surprisingly) upset her husband and they separated. But she did not slip into obscurity. Instead, her beauty captured the attention of photographers, Mayer and Pierson. They documented her life in photographs, earning her a legacy that carried on long after her death.

Marie-Louis O’Murphy posed for a nude painting as a young teen. It came to the attention of Louis XV. She became one of his mistresses

and bore him a child. When she attempted to replace Madame de Pompadour as his favored mistress, she was booted from favor and married off. She went on to live an interesting life, including marrying and divorcing a second husband (the first died) who was twenty-eight years her junior.

Needless to say, the research into this topic was very interesting! Though my books have yet to feature an actual courtesan heroine, I wondered if readers would accept a fallen woman as a heroine, or would her past be too hard to overcome?

The Accidental Courtesanhas been released this week (Oct 4th), the same week as my birthday (Oct 7th), so I’m having a party!Berkley is giving away a two book set of my books to a Romance Bandits commenter today. Just give me your opinion of a fallen woman as a heroine.

Donna here - Speaking of prizes, I just wanted to remind everyone of the mad party of tricks and treats and prizes beginning on October 14th in the lair. Later this month a BIG Bandita Surprise will be announced with even more prizes, but you MUST be here on the 14th for details!

Cheryl's Birthday Bash continues on at her blog and she's giving the gifts! For details about a chance at a birthday kindle, visit www.cherylannsmith.com

63 comments:

I'm sooo excited about this book. I'm fine with fallen women as heroine's. Every women deserves their HEA regardless of circumstances. I even hold tight for the convicted killer women. "They're innocent!" I yell!

Anyways, I'm really excited about this book and can't wait to read it.

Interesting facts about the courtesans. I guess one way to get the ear of someone important was to send your wife to his bed. Not my cup of tea but it happened. I used to read a lot of historical novels and I have read about fallen heroines in more than one. It can be a very rewarding theme.

Congrats on the new release, Cheryl and Happy Birthday. It's refreshing to read about a heroine who is a fallen woman. Our initial(probably unflattering) opinions about her will change as we get to know how and why she became a fallen woman.

Kaelee - I think a fallen woman as heroine can be done (witness Anna's Claiming the Courtesan) but I think it takes a lot of skill to present that heroine in a way that the reader will root for. Kudos to Cheryl Ann for attempting and succeeding at that.

Hi Jane - I think it's really cool to have a release so close to a birthday. It's a gift from the publisher and a way to celebrate with tons of people AND you get cake!(I hope Cheryl Ann gets a cake with that gorgeous cover on it).

Congrats on the release. I have never had a problem with fallen women as heroines. Generally, they are there because of things they could not control (rape, poverty, taken advantage of, etc). I guess as long as there is a reason for it, and that the woman is a good person (not manipulative, vindictive, etc) I will be fine with them.

Wow... we all seem to have books coming out of our ears right now. I've received seven books so far for my birthday (which was 5th, October; which for me has been and gone already) and Mum and Dad got me a sewing machine... what for, well, I'm from a long line of seamtresses and dressmakers... so Mum's hoping I pick up sewing.

A fallen woman as a heroine may endear her even more to me. In fact I know I'll be rooting her on. I believe in second chances and that no one is perfect. A "fallen" woman may not even have done anything wrong but put her trust in another or is simply judged guilty when she is innocent. These circumstances set the stage for the heroine to discover who she really his, who the people around her really are, and to develop strengths to overcome obstacles. I know at the end of the journey she will have earned her happy ending.

Cheryl, I visited your blog earlier it's beautiful! You have a lot to celebrate with your book release and upcoming birthday. Yay! Have a great week.

You know, that just makes me think of Miss Kitty. Cheesy I know but don't we all want the best for everyone? Including heroines that have had to do whatever they must to survive long enough to find their Prince Charming? For me that might just make a stronger story because a true love and prince charming accepts a heroine no matter what her faults may be.

Whoo Hoo Hi Cheryl and Donna I soo loved your first book in this series fantastic story I am really looking forward to this next one.

Happy birthday for tomorrow it is my daughter's birthday as well my baby will be 25 tomorrow LOL.

I really like the idea of a fallen woman as a heroine as you have said before lots of woman were fallen in this period just to put food on the table and clothing on their backs let alone looking after family members it is nice to see them gain respect and be able to live comfortably.

I proposed a combo release and b-day giveaway week to my editor and she came right on board. I've given away several sets of books already! Everyone here will be in for a book drawing today and your names will go in the hat for the Kindle tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Cheryl! I am an October baby too. I think a fallen woman is a very realistic heroine since times could be hard for women years ago. They definitely didn't have today's choices and opportunities.

When I was younger I preferred my heroines to be untouched before meeting their hero. Now, with much life experience behind me, I'm fine with experienced heroines in my reading material as well. As Landra said, "every woman deserves their HEA."

Fallen women make fascinating heroines, I think, especially if they have had to make difficult decisions as a result of their lifestyle. That said, I want them to accept their past life without shame--no "poor little me, I'm no good", please! Obviously, they also have to be strong women.

TxDee, as Louisa points our, our own Anna Campbell has written wonderful, wrenching books with fallen women as heroines--Claiming the Courtesan, her debut, Tempt the Devil, and her most recent release, Midnight's Wild Passion. I think it's because of her that I'm aware of the story possibilities and conflicts such heroines bring.

I like the whole concept of fallen women rising above the circumstances and getting a HEA! When considering the historical background of the time, it's truly amazing what some women overcame and went on to accomplish ! A big YOU GO GIRL from me, every time!

Welcome Cheryl. I have no problem with a fallen woman as a heroine - but then I'm a bit of a rebel *g*. For me, such women are usually more interesting characters than a lot of 'unfallen' women. Possibly because authors have to work harder to make them empathetic.

Great!! I like the idea! Especially if she is a smart fallen women. And getting to know all about her circumstance is what keeps you spell bound to see just how she is going to overcome her fate in life along with a sense of humor and cunning social abilities....boy am I asking to much? Love those can't put it down til I'm done read!!

Happy Birthday Cheryl....I'm an October Birthday as well! Did someone say cake? LOL

Berkley does great covers. I'm blessed there! I'd love to get a cake with the cover on it for my birthday, but then I wouldn't want to eat it!

Fallen women do need HEA's. I have a book about courtesans and some really had tough lives. I'd like to think they all didn't marry for money, but maybe some did for love? I can't remember her name but one mistress had something like ten kids with her lover. She must have been devoted, though he never did marry her. Jerk!

I think a fallen woman as a heroine would work as long as she had a great story of how she came to be one - not just because she liked sex or something. As long as she was sympathetic and it was an interesting story, I'd enjoy it.

Men are often seen as repentant and"renewed" personages, accepted by"Society" in their new guise. Whycan't women make themselves over &be accepted in the same way? I can & have accepted women in their new roles.

Shoot, a young woman really couldn't be caught in the dark with a man without being ruined, yet, as long as a wife produced an heir(and maybe a spare)with her hubby, she could take lovers. Interesting how the rules of society work!

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September Releases

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Donna MacMeans, Trish Milburn, and Nancy Northcott will all be in Atlanta for the Moonlight and Magnolias conference in Decatur, Georgia September 30 through October 2nd. If you're in the area, stop by for the booksigning. We'd love to see you.

Redeeming the Rogue by Donna MacMeans received a 4.5 star TOP PICK! review from Romantic Times Magazine.

Living in Color by Trish Milburn is now available on Kindle, Smashwords and at barnesandnoble.com for the Nook.